Albo locks in candidates for crucial Qld seats, but insists early poll not on
The prime minister has hosed down talks of going to an early federal election, as he announced Labor’s candidate in a crucial Queensland seat.
Former professional basketballer in the NBL Matt Smith is hoping his career move into federal politics is also a slam dunk with voters.
Mr Smith, who played seven seasons in top-flight basketball in Australia, has been named as Labor’s candidate for the seat of Leichhardt at the next federal election.
The seat takes in Cairns, Port Douglas and stretches as far north as the Cape York Peninsula and is among targets for the Labor government as it looks to increase its electoral fortunes in Queensland.
It is held by the coalition’s Warren Entsch, who has been the sitting MP since 1996, with the exception of one term between 2007 and 2010.
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Anthony Albanese revealed Edwina Andrew would run for the party at the next election in the seat of Herbert, which takes in Townsville.
Ms Andrew, who previously ran for the Senate for Labor at the 2022 election, is a senior manager in a not-for-profit organisation and has lived in Townsville for almost four decades.
Mr Albanese said Herbert would be a key seat for the government ahead of the next election.
“Part of the advantage that Edwina has is that in running for the Senate last time, her profile locally has been lifted substantially,” he told reporters in Townsville on Thursday.
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“She’s someone who is well known in this community and we want her in the field.”
The next election is not due until May 2025, but Mr Albanese dismissed suggestions the candidate announcement was made because people were heading to the polls sooner.
“It’s important that we get our candidates on the ground,” he said.
“What we’re making sure is that our candidates can, very early on, go and connect with the community.”
Labor last held Herbert in 2016 when it won the seat by just 37 votes.
Since then, the seat has been in the hands of the coalition, with incumbent Phillip Thompson holding it with a margin of more than 11 per cent.
Ms Andrew said she wanted to be a voice for the community.
“I’ve come up through a working class family. I lived in disadvantage, we lived in very rural areas, and I’ve seen the impacts that the cost of living crisis can have,” she said.
“I’ve always been very passionate about ensuring that everybody has access to equal rights, to an opportunity to live the best life that they can.”
The announcement came after the prime minister revealed candidates for Labor in other Queensland electorates including Ryan, Forde and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s seat of Dickson.
Mr Albanese said Labor’s candidates for the electorate of Leichhardt, which takes in Cairns up through Cape York, would be announced on Friday.
